Do You Know These Important Heart Disease Statistics?

Although cardiac disease is the leading cause of U.S. deaths, many people are unaware of important facts surrounding it or its consequences, among them blocked arteries and cardiac arrest. Test your knowledge against these 12 sets of heart disease statistics:

1. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a whopping 49 percent of Americans have at least 1 of the top 3 risk factors for developing this condition: high blood pressure, smoking and high LDL cholesterol.

2. This illness links to 1 of every 4 U.S. deaths – 600,000 individuals each year.

3. Among ethnicities, It’s the leading U.S. cause of death for African Americans, Caucasians and Hispanics. It ranks second to cancer among American Indians or Alaska Natives and Asians or Pacific Islanders. Between 2007 and 2009, the highest U.S. death rates occurred in the South. The lowest were in the West.

4. Around 715,000 U.S. residents experience a heart attack each year. For 525,000, it’s their first. However, for 190,000, it’s a repeat experience.

5. Coronary disease is expensive. The annual U.S. tab for lost productivity, health care and medications is $108.9 billion.

6. When surveyed, 92 percent of people who responded were able to recognize chest pain as a heart attack symptom. However, only 27 percent knew they should call 9-1-1 when witnessing a heart attack and were also aware of all its main symptoms: chest pain or discomfort; pain in the upper body or discomfort occurring in the back, jaw, arms, upper stomach or neck; shortness of breath; and nausea, lightheadedness or cold sweats. Nearly half of sudden cardiac deaths don’t occur in a hospital setting, also suggesting a lack of action despite warning signs.

7. The American Heart Association reports that serum cholesterol levels for around 32 million U.S. adults are at least 240 mg/dL.

8. Experts estimate that 78 million U.S. adults suffer from hypertension. While 82 percent are aware of having high blood pressure, and three out of every four take medication from a cardiologist or other physician for it, the condition is controlled in only 53 percent of patients.

9. Despite decades of anti-smoking campaigns, 18 percent of students in grades 9 through 12 indicate current smoking. When it comes to the adult population, 17 percent of women and 21 percent of men are smokers.

10. Heart doctors recognize diabetes, physical inactivity, a poor diet and being obese or even overweight as risk factors for developing heart disease. Physicians have diagnosed diabetes in around 20 million U.S. adults. They estimate that about 8 million more suffer from undiagnosed diabetes, while 87 million have pre-diabetes.

11. Among the U.S. population, 68 percent of adults are either obese or overweight. For children, the figures are 17 percent (obese) and 32 percent (overweight).

12. When it comes to physical activity, only 1 of every 5 adults meets federal guidelines. For high school students, the figure is 28 percent.

If you’ve been diagnosed with cardiac disease or are at risk for developing it, be sure to schedule a consultation with a board-certified cardiac specialist at an Arizona cardiovascular treatment center.

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